Both major parties fail on mental health

THE leaders of both major parties have stopped short of guaranteeing action on a call for reform to help Australians who have mental health issues.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten voiced support for more to be done, but neither party has committed to the commission's 2014 call for a national, 10-year strategy and increased funding.

Rural Health Minister Fiona Nash said the government's new primary health care networks would help ensure regional communities got services where they were most needed.